DFS NBA Lineups for January 20, 2017 at Draftkings.com & Fanduel.com
Each day that there’s a good slate of DFS NBA games, we’ll give you the game totals, spreads, and pertinent injury news for NBA daily fantasy, as well as some players that we’re considering for our lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel.
We have nine games on the slate tonight, highlighted by a showdown between the Warriors and Rockets where both teams sport an implied total over 115 points! Be sure and monitor any of the injury news that breaks throughout the day, as value plays can arise in a moments notice.
PLAYERS RULED OUT
Jodie Meeks (thumb)
Rudy Gay (Achilles)
Khris Middleton (knee)
Jeremy Lin (hamstring)
Andrew Bogut (hamstring)
Larry Nance Jr. (knee)
INJURY NEWS TO MONITOR
Taj Gibson (ankle)
Evan Fournier (foot)
Jeremy Lamb (foot)
Luol Deng (wrist)
DeMarre Carroll (neck)
Patrick Patterson (knee)
Lucas Noguiera (concussion)
Ty Lawson (ankle)
NBA GAME SPREADS, TOTALS & START TIME FOR TODAY’S GAMES
Blazers -1.5 @ 76ers (7:00p): 208.5
Raptors @ Hornets -1.5 (7:00p): 215.5
Bucks -3.5 @ Magic (7:00p): 209.5
Nets @ Pelicans -10 (8:00p): 219.5
Bulls @ Hawks -5.5 (8:00p): 205
Kings @ Grizzlies -7 (8:00p): 199.5
Warriors -5.5 @ Rockets (8:00p): 237
Jazz -6.5 @ Mavericks (8:30p): 187.5
Pacers -3 @ Lakers (10:30p): 220.5
Best NBA Picks for January 20, 2017
James Harden ($12.2k DraftKings, $12.2k FanDuel)
It’s Harden versus the world tonight in Houston, or at least versus the all-world Warriors and their star-studded lineup. When last these teams met, The Beard led the Rockets to a stunning 2OT win at Oracle Arena with a triple double and a whopping 75.25 DK points, which is his ceiling once again in a matchup between two of the top 5 offenses in the NBA. This game has been assigned with a huge 236.5-point Over/Under due to the expected blinding pace of action and Harden is going to have the ball in his hands constantly as he feeds the Rockets shooters and tries to keep pace with Golden State.
Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10.6k DraftKings, $11.1k FanDuel)
The Greek Freak carried the Bucks in a loss at Houston on Wednesday and his price tag is starting to really rise to the levels of the elite as a result. He’s been just as beastly as James Harden or Russell Westbrook at times and he draws a fantastic matchup at Orlando tonight. The Magic cough up the sixth-most FPPG (47.76) to opposing PGs over the last month and Giannis is carrying the Bucks (-2.5) offense as one of the most physically-imposing PGs in NBA history. The relatively close line on this game makes it one to target and Antetokounmpo is almost guaranteed to lead the charge for Milwaukee.
Stephen Curry ($8.7k DraftKings, $9.1k FanDuel)
Playing Curry on FanDuel and DraftKings is a different proposition tonight just based on his price relative to the other stars on both DFS sites. Yet game flow remains a large determining factor in which players produce in this likely shootout and Curry could play the role of work horse for Golden State after Kevin Durant carried the team to a win over the Thunder on Wednesday. The Rockets are playing at a lighting quick pace and that’s part of the reason why they give up the third-most 3PTM (10) per game this season, indicating big things for the most talented member of the Splash Brothers.
Mid Tier DFS NBA Picks
Tyreke Evans ($5.8k DraftKings, $5.8k FanDuel)
He doesn’t have much upside due to his minutes restriction and role in an Anthony Davis-dominated offense, but of course The Brow has left games with alarming consistency over the past couple of weeks and you can hardly assume that he’ll make it through a home tilt against the lowly Nets tonight. Reke just went for 18 points over just 20 minutes after Davis departed the Pelicans last game and he’s now averaging 31.9 DK PPG despite playing just 22.5 MPG over his last 5 appearances. Of course, Brooklyn gives up the most PPG (115) in the NBA along with the most FPPG to just about every position, including PG, and Evans serves as a hybrid floor general with New Orleans second unit right now.
Jonas Valanciunas ($5.7k DraftKings, $5.7k FanDuel)
The Raptors are listing three different members of their frontcourt as questionable tonight in DeMarre Carroll, Patrick Patterson and Lucas Nogueira. Since Nogueira is the center out of that bunch, he’s potential absence due to a concussion would raise Valanciunas’ stock the most. JoVal is on a solid return with the exception of a surprising dud against the Nets weak defense earlier this week, as he’s still averaging 12.2 PPG and an impressive 15 RPG over his last 5 appearances. Charlotte has struggled to contain true centers all year and coughs up the seventh-most FPPG (50.71) to that position over the last month, so give Toronto’s man in the middle a look as a tournament option in the mid-tier range tonight.
Bargain Tier DFS NBA Picks
Evan Turner ($4.1k DraftKings, $4.4k FanDuel)
The Sixers are playing much better ball both offensively and defensively right now as they’ve managed to put together the first winning stretch in recent years for a maligned franchise. Yet they’re still vulnerable on the wing with inexperienced players rotating in at that spot, so Turner should be able to carve Philadelphia up while operating with the Blazers second unit tonight. Portland was embarrassed in Charlotte in the last installment of this road trip, but ET still met value with 8 points and 9 rebounds over 20 minutes during that loss and he’s cheap enough that he can meet value with relative ease once again.
Joe Ingles ($4.4k DraftKings, $4k FanDuel)
With Rodney Hood out over the next couple of weeks, Ingles should get a couple more starts for the Jazz and continue to make Australians proud with his solid play at the highest level. While he doesn’t shoot too often, he’s one of the league’s leaders in 3PT percentage and he could find success on the perimeter tonight against a Mavericks team that happens to rank dead last in opponents 3PT shooting (.404%) this season. Ingles started slowly in his last start but managed to produce 26 DK points (23.9 FD points) over 34 minutes and he’s a great bet to meet value if he plays over 30 minutes again tonight.
Mario Hezonja ($3k DraftKings, $3.5k FanDuel)
Down goes Evan Fournier with a foot injury and a couple of games later the Magic lost backup SG Jodie Meeks with a thumb injury, so Hezonja is the next man up. At the stone minimum on both main DFS sites, he’s an intriguing punt play tonight against a Bucks squad that is chock-full of athletes and forces the opposition to roll with young legs. The rookie earned some time in the rotation with 39 minutes over Orlando’s last 2 games and he’s going to be forced into action for as long as Fournier remains shelved.
If, Then Player
If Luol Deng sits tonight for the Lakers, Brandon Ingram could become another viable punt play at the SF position. You can pretty much consider Anthony Davis questionable to play or finish any game he starts these days, so also use Terrence Jones as an “If, Then” player who could thrive if The Brow taps out yet again.
